The Sun. — London, England, 1826-04-04 00:00:00

A BILL To AMEND and CONSOLIDATE the LAWS for the RE. LIEF of INSOLVENT DEBTORS in ENGLAND. (As amended by the Committee.) Use. 7. Gro. IV. The length or this Bill wholly precludes the IMltilbitity or giving an abstract of Its contents, and in truth it if hardly necessary, ns the provi sions are entirely the same with those DOW Tiiice. .Its chief purpose i merely to consolidate the enactments of three Acts into one, and to ren- Aer the system perpetu►al, and not as hereto lore, fora certain space of time oily. Thus, at bit, the Ins►„lven►. System has arrived at maturity, and io► like manner as its forerunner the Bank, milt Laves, which in their origin were temporary, is about to become f►xed and permanent. At this time, then, we consider it not a misplaced ques• tion to inquire what real distinction there is be- tween the case of a person subject to the opera. lion of the Bankrupt laws, and the case of a .person Subject , to the operation of the Insolvent Laws; or whether the simple fact of being or not being a trader, is enough to warrant the appliea, ,tion of a different system of maw to each of these 'persons, both being in pani della°, viz. insolvent. The same principle is the foundation of both codes of law, and in that principle necessity compels us (however reluctant) to acquiesce ; but we must confess we are not quite satisfied with the reason on which the distinction in the mea. sure of relief to be given to these parties may be presumed to he built, conceiving that one party is entitled to no greater assistance from law than the other. - Hut the ground of this distinction appears to 'be that the insolveticy of the bankrupt must be presumed to have arisen from losses in trade, whilst that of the iniolvet►t debtor can only spring from folly and extravagance. Whatever force there may he in this argument, when the fact coincides with the presumption, we yet think it must he granted, that in nine out of every ten .ceses such is not the case. Besides, It by no means follows that the insolvency of a person, not a trader, should have been occasioned by extravagance any more than the insolvency of a trader should necessarily spring from losses In trade. In proof of this 'assertion take the (oh.' lowing descriptions of iniolventa discharged by ibe Insolvent Debtors' Court yesterday, Merchant, Sheep Salesman l Cutler, Bill•hroker, Lightermatz, Gieee.tkaler,Spinster, Postmaster, -Carpenter, Tailor, Engineer. All these piqs . oos, ...except the Spinster, the Postmaster, and the Engineer, were liable to the Bankrupt Laws. after this, can it be contended that persons seeking the benefit of the Insolvent Act .have been brought to insolvency by extravagance rather than by losses'in trade ? This appears to us conclusive. In the ramifications of commerce, it would indeed be strange if persons not trade's were not often Involved in roils by the bankruptcy of trader, and in that event it is difficult to Contend :that an insolvent, not a trader, ought not to be entitled to the same relief as a bankrupt. , But even taking it in the fullest extent,' and granting , that insolvents (ns contradistingaished from bank rupts) were in general persons' Who had brought their misfortunes upon thernselvei by extrava ...once and dissipation, we do not even then see how that will furnish any good reason for not extending to them '(having resigned all their pro. perty to their creditors) the same full' and ample relhf which is extended to every bankrupt without • reference to the causes which produced the bank ruptcy. In' this view of the case, we are strongly tempted to wish to see these two systems united, awl . the whole Bankrupt jurisdiction taken from the list of Commissioners of 'Bankrupts, and , vested at once in the Commissioners of the In- Solvent Debtor's Court, giving them the neces. airy powers, and permitting the same kind of justice to be administered -to all, seeking the protection of the Court, without any inquiry into the trading and act of bankruptcy. The diffi -talties, which oppose themselves to this arnalga don we know are numerous, but they are not 'insurmountable, when both practice and theory shell be brought to bear upon them. Such a clse4e is however too much to expect, and it would therefore be useless to enter into the arguments which might be adduced to sup rot it. We therefore abandon the point ; but before quitting the subject altogether, we wish • to point out a distinction or two between a trader and a simple insolvent, that appear to us both un 'necessary and unjust. It is rather an 'od& fact, that in order to be amenable to the bankrupt laws, a man must, besides being a trader, be guilty of a dishonest act. The 6th Geo. IV:, c. 16., recognised but eleven direct acts of bankruptCy,--AS. 1. de parting the realm ; Q. being out of the realm or remniniug abroad ; 3. deprating from one's d well 'leg-honse ; 4. absenting one's self ; 5. keeping holm ; , 6. being arrested for a debt not due in 'some cases; ' 7. yielding one's self to prison; B. •outlawry ; 9..precuring one's self :0i be arrested ; 10, procuring . one's goods to he 'sequestered; 11. fraudulent ' conveyance of lands or goods. Yet, notwithstrintliog the act of bankruptcy is avowedly a dishonest act, a certificate of confor mity protects the bankrupt from any future.de. mend of a debt from which he has been discharg. - o f t by his 'bankruptcy Not se with the insist is dtsc . harged from prises, went—he truly but every de-tumid' tu acnst him 'remains in its priStine' rigour, not in any way affected by it, and only reduced by the dividends the creditors actually receive from Isis estate. A ,notice of intention to take the benefit of the In solvent Act does not suspend the right of any creditor to seize for his own bill, and hehoof any property the insolvent may have, by writs or !fa, or elegit, and which he has destined to go over to his assignees, to be rateably divided amongst alt claimants. An instance of the hard ship of this rule will be found in the case of Phikp Stutter, whose whole property, even to the excepted articles allowed by the law, was swept away in this manner. Besides this, the insolvent is compelled to authorise a . judgment to be entered against him in one of the Supe rior Courts, so that although his person is safe from custody, any property he may acquire subsequent to his discharge can he wrested from him by execution process, and that without pre vious notice of the destruction which is awaiting him. It is against thiagreat, this cruel hardship, we are chiefly desirous of raising our voice, as it only serves to paralyze every, effort of a dis charged insolvent ,to better his condition in the world, and add to the wealth of the nation by his diligence and industry. It is a rule that is full of injustice, and to assert that it has seldom been used, only proves its chilling effect upon the exertions of discharged insolvents, and how utterly profitless to the creditors it has been, and must continue' to be. THE FALCON STEAM-PACKET COMPANY. Yesterday a .Meeting of the Shareholders in the above Company took place at the office of the Association in Nicholas-lane; Lombard-street. J. W. Esq. in the chair. _ _ . CILAIRNAN stated, the Meeting was convened by pub lic advertisement, at the instance of Mr. Edwards, one of the Directors of the Company; and that he (Mr. Curtis) felt great regret at the absence of that gentle Man, who, if present, would have been able to state his motives for having done so. He had received a letter from Mr. Edwards that morning, stating that he could not attend; but assigned his reason for absent ing himself at a time when it was his 'duty to come forward, to give an explanation to the shareholders of what had been dope to carry into effect the views held out in the prospee: tus. For his part he was quite ignorant of what had been done. Mr. A% infield had the arrangement of every thing : he understood that more money was required to finish a steamer; but that until he could satisfy ins own mind that there was a Company really in existence, and that the share holders had approved of the expences already incurred, he never would consent to a further call. He had seen the boat alleged to be the property, and believed all that was required to render her complete was a steam-engine. Ile con. eluded by soliciting tint shareholders to ask Mr. Winfield, who was present, for any information upon the affairs of the Company. Shareholder—l am very glad to find that we have a boat—l was afraid that all the money wits gone ; 'the directors have been very neglectful in the affairs of this company ; the responsibi. lity attached to the situation of director now is much more important than it was three months ago—a recent decision of the Lord Mayor ought to make directors to look more into the affairs of the Association to which they belong, and how many shares have been Tait{ up. Mr. HENRY Wirer:l:Ln, a director—Six hundred shares have been paid upon, and the money has been expended in building a steam-boat' The other expences attending the formation of the Company, house-rent, &c, have been very trifling. Shareholder—How do we know that the boat is ours? has there been a bill of sale from the boat-builder? Mr. Sowznnir—There has been a bill of sale, and the boat is made over to trustees for the benefit of the shareholders. It does not require much money to finish her. The vessel may be spoiled, and have the dry rot, if not at once finished. Sir J. M. Doyle would give :1,600/. for the boat, if it was finished. I will undertake to finish the vessel for a stipulated sum, and the Directors may have the power of paying the workmen themselves. • Mr. WINE lELD —A friend of mine to me this day, that if the boat was finished, he could get 4,000/. for her abroad. Shareholder—l think it better to have the boat sold at home : " a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.".(A laugh.) C e llitrostmr—l really wish the shareholders would go and sec the boat, and that every thing is fair. I think a friend of mine would advance as much money as would finish bee, and then it would be for the shareholders' consideration whether it would be more prudent to sell her, or to carry the original in tention of the directors into effect. Shareholder.—l consider the directors have flinched from their duty, but they are liable to all the debts. I wish the meeting would come to a decision to appoint trustees over them, for I should be very sorry if they were exonerated from their liabilities. Mr. W. NifiwrlELD-1 have no doubt but that if the boat was finished, the directors would be able to pay 20 per cent. on the deposits. lam quite satisfied they would be able to do so, from the profits the General Steam Company make. Shareholder—Are the directors qualified by the number of shares they hold ? CHAIRMAN-All the directors are qualified bilt Mr. Thos. Curtis; and Air. Anstice, another director, is very anxious to resign. Mr. MACKENZIE-1 think it better to appoint trustees, and make a call of 11. pet share, and that the money he laid out under their own eyes, and let them have a lien on the vessel. Shareholder—Mr. Chairman, I am sorry your nanie is not in the trust.deed in which the vessel is made over to. the Company. I would rather sea it in. Dl r. SOWEItIIIi—I will make an assignment of the Vessel over to new trustees. Shareholder—l come here in despair. I thought the cash wax all gone. I move that three shareholders be appointed to wait upon the directors , and inquire into the state of the Com pany's affitirs.—Carried unanimously. Chairman-.I know a bad feeling exists abroad respecting this Company, but I wish to impr6is upon the meeting that I and quite ignorant of what has been done. I have been very anxious to see the Directors, hut never could; however, I think by adopting a proper course, the Directors may get safe out of the speculation. Thanks were then moved to the Chairman, and the meeting adjourned. Pooa RATEs IN Cu Esuritu.-27,105 families employetrin trade; 18,1.'20 in agriculture ; total chargp, 217,2121. ; 80,7261. land ; 5;2191. trade. The rage for projects is extremely, prevalent' in Paris. It is now said, that on mature exami nation many objections to the proposed Ship Canal, front the sea to the French capital, can , ' be obviated. ; it is even asserted that the KING hits announced his intention of taking shares to the amount of several millions of francs. Of course the whole Court must become inore,or less interested in the enterprize.,—A society, at the head of which is a young lady, preposes to raise a fend of two millions, in shares, to; manufacture church ornaments, which may . be come a very profitable branch of industry or trade, if the Jesuits only get the upper hand in the government. Another company proposes to supply the Parisians, when they are ill , with physicians, surgeons, and medicines, free of all expence, beyond a certain annual sum to be . paid by each family in proportion to its rent.— For instance,---a- person pitying an annual rent of 300 francs should pay 15 francs or 5 per cent, to this " Curing , Society ;" for which tie might be ill, as often as Providence should think tit, with out having to pay a farthing more. A posthumous work of RoussEAU, entitled -4"I'llooglits of an Honest Mind, and Sentiments of a Virtuotts Heart," has just been published at Paris, lied the original of this, in the hand writing of Rousseau, not been left for inspec t io n, internni e vid ence in the work itself would point out-the author. /The manuscript, among other papers left with the Marshal de Luxembourg, was loSt when the Philosopher made his precipi tate flight into Switzerland, and in its present form is accompanied by what appears to have been the first sketch of the 46 Confessions." FRENCH PAPERS. CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, MARCH 31. M. DUHADIEL had submitted a proposition to the following effect t—" Except in the general discussions of laws or of pro. positions, no written discourse can be read in the Chamber, on' the chapters, titles, or articles, of laws q/ ... 1) . 110ti0ts votes' alone may be consulted." M. Roger, as the Reporter of the Commission which was ap pointed to examine this proposition, ascended the Tribune, and proceeded to argue at some length against Its adoption.— " In.ihe name of the Commission," said he, " and in a written discourse, I venture, with all humility to oppose the perilous honours of extemporaneous: oratory, to which the proposition of M. Duhamel would consign us."—(Laughter.)—M. Roger argued that the Chamber ought not to be deprived of the wis. dom of those members who can express themselves on paper, though unable to do so orally. M 1 Roger• illustrated the proposition of M. Duhamel, whose object he contended, was to make orators of them all, by the lollowing anecdote : distinguished nobleman, forty years ago, patronised a poet, whose tragedies always failed. " Do you know," said he, " the cause of your failure? It is because you do not intro duce into your pieces enough of the sublime. As the public have a taste for . the sublime, what trouble can it be to you to indulge it? Give them plenty of the sublime."— " Gentleman, ' added Mons. Roger, " we cannot be su- While when we choose: we cannot he orators when we choose. " The example of the English Parliament," said he, " does not apply to France, where we speak from a tribune instead of from one's place, and where we do not enter the C amt er till we are 40 years of age. Is it to be supposed that every th;ng in the English Parliament is worthy of imitation ? Is it to be supposed that their discussions, though uniformly oral, are as frank and sincere as ours ? Do you imagine that their display, apparently so unpremeditated, is not in fact ar, ranged: and systematic? From. the Ring's speech down to a debate on the budget—from elections to the dissolution--every thing is prepared beforehand. In a word, are not all the scenes of the Parliamentary drama more artificial than natural ?" The next argument of M. Roger was, that there would be no raving of time by the adoption of M. Di:limners proposi tion; and here again he appealed to the practice of the British Parliament. "Who among you gentlemen," said he, " does not remember that Minister of Great Britain, who upon enter ing the House of Commons, found a member speaking, whose prolixity was so marvellous, that he had time to go to his country house, six miles from London, and to return to the house, when lie found the same member still on his legs?"-- (Bursts of laughter.) The Report of the, Committee was ordered to be printed, and the discussion upon the proposition was deferred. IRISH ASSIZES. LONDONDERRY. rnErmAsows.—TirE RING AGAINST DOHERTY AND • MILLEII. Mr. SCEIOALES, on the part of the Crown, said, that as this was, he believed, the first prosecution that had taken place under the late 'statute against Unlawful Assemblies (4th Gen. IV.), it might be necessary to address the Court and Jury. The traversers were indicted for a misdemeanour, in acting as members of a society called Freemasons, by appear. ing in the insignia of the order, and marching in public pro cession. Mr. Schoales read some passages from the statute, which showed that all associations, lodges, &c. bound toge. titer by secret oaths or ,engagements, were (amongst others) wisely, ,prohibited by this statute; and that public processions of any such bodies, having a tendency to produce disturbance, and to lead to riot, and perhaps to bloodshed, were especially intended to be prevented. Ile then stated, that on the 27th of December last, the Mayor of Coleraine having received infor xnaticn that . Freemason lodges were assembling in that town, repaired to the several places where their flags were displayed; he informed the persons assembled that their purpose was ille gal, and advised them to disperse. In general the advice of the 11Iagistrate was followed; but the traversers, with some others, resisted it, and proceeded through some of the streets of Cole raine in procession, with flags, &c., as usual. Another Ma gistrate lutviug joined the Mayor, with some constables, they attempted to take the flags, and a struggle ensued, which con. stitutcti a riot, and in whichl one of the :Magistrates was nearly knocked down. But as the traversers had since expressed con trition, and declared that they acted in ignorance of the law, Mr. Schoales said the object of the prosecution would be an swered by such moderate punishment as the Court, in discre tion, should think sufficient to prevent a repetition of the offence. Mr. ROLLESTON, for the traversers, declared, that Freema sons would he among the last persons in the community to sum mit a wilftil breach of the law. Be admitted that his clients had acted illegally, but they had not any knowledge of the ex isting law at the time. They were sorry to have offended, arid wished to make amends by withdrawing their traverses and pleading guilty, not generally to the indictment, but, to the count the the infringement of the new statute. 111. Sot oai.r.s said, that they had sufficient evidence to support a riot under the common law.• Mr. IIot.t.ESTOSI, in reply, said, that now for the first time he hail heard Freernaaons accused as a riotous mob. lam my self, my Lord, a Freemason, and never till this moment in Ire land did I hear of their being accused, as a body, of any thing illegal, immoral, or disloyal. Mr. SCTIOALES.—MT. Lord, Mr. Rolleaton cannot now be heard, unless his clients submit to the charges in the indictment. My Lord, said Mr. Itor.r.trerox, sumbit to the charge of riot ! Freemasons submit to the charge of riot ! Never l—he who reveres the order will not advise or suffer the men or the Society be loves to admit they have polluted themselves by a base and degrading riot. NO, my Lord, the Freemasons of this kingdom are men of spirit,virtue, and morality, who have never been debased even by the imptitation of a breach of the peace. No; ages have established them pure, virtuous, peaceful, and loyal. I shall tell your Lordship What they will admit-.:- that on the day in question they assembled as an ancient arid• highly respectable lodge of Freemasons, as they and their an cestors had done since the erection of the temple. They will admit, that on the day in question they marched as free and accepted masons, according to the custom of that ancient and revered body. They will admit that they were on that day, for the first time, informed that a meeting of free, independent, and United Masons, displaying the signals of union and fra ternity, were contrary to law. They will admit that, how ever anxious they are to hoist the banners of love, friendship, and loyalty, yet if that is forbidden by the Legislature, they will no longer unfurl them in public. Let them, my Lord, with this admission s and with this acknowledgment, depart peaceably to their hoines. Though I admit they acknowledge no more, it is impossible to punish men of their purity and morality for this inadvertent error. No Jury can convict them —they will not, if informed by your Lordship that the assem bling as free-masons is illegal—they will not again publicly display the sacred efliblems of their order—they will be antis. fled in secret to press them, inscribed with love, fraternity, and virtue, to their loyal and generous hearts. The Learned JUDOT: agreed in every respect, and said, that as they had thus, in open Court, declared their sentiments, and that no public parade should again be made, he would permit them to return to their homes anti to their families without any imputation, whatever, but that of inadvertent mistake of pre sent privilege. They had now acknowledged their offence, and submitted to the mercy of the Court, and hi s L or d s hi p thought public justice would be suf fi ciently vindi cate d b y a small fine ; upon payment of which they were discharged. DREADFUL ACCIDENT.-- , - 0111 Saturday last the Dorking coach was upset at Ewell. The coach left the Elephant and Castle at half-past nine o'clock, full inside and outside, and arrived safe ut Ewell soon after eleven, when Joseph Walker, -the driver and proprietor, alighted for the par. pose of delivering a parcel from the back part of the coach, givirig the reins to a boy that sat on the box to hold for him. While delivering the parcel.to the person who stood near the hind.whael of the coach, th e bey cracked the whip, a n d th e horses set o ff at, full speed. All attempts to stop them were in va i n ; in passing Ewell ch urc h, t h ey tore aw a y a b out IG2 yards of strong paling, wheu the wheels mounting a small eminence the coach Overturned, and the whole of the passengers were in an instant thrown from the roof. Some were In a s.tate of insensibility, showing no. symptoms of lifH, One female was thrown upon some spikes, which entered her breast and neck ; she was dreadfully mutilated, none of her features being distinguishable; she lingered until yester day, when she expired in the greatest ago ny. Two were put into a post-chaise, and went off for London. Four were put to bed at the King's Head, where they now lie in a very dangerous ,state. GENERAL ELECTION. CITY REPRESENTATION. Yesterday a Meeting of the friendt of Mr. Alderman WAITUMAII was held at,the Horns Taluri, Copinpns, pursuant to a circular letter, for the pUriese-of .0 - Asigern the at means of securing ,his.retorti to Vadiament rtt dif net ElectiA,for a ItepretehiAve of tha City allondon. Mr. FAVELL took the Chair. There were about 40 persons present, who were chiefly those known in the city as the public supporters of the principles which Mr. Alderman Waithman advocates. The CHAIRMAN addressed the Meeting, and stated, that this was to be considered rather of a preliminary nature, being composed of those personal and political friends of the Alder man, who were ready to come forward and devote their time,. or their pecuniary aid, in order to secure his return as one of their representatives. Mr. Favell then took a view of the po litical career of the Alderman during the last twenty-five years. He stated, that several of the principles which he had, during that time, advocated with undeviating firmness, and at a great loss, were now recognized as well founded. Ile spoke of the good effects which his exertions had often produced in the city,; and of his firmness on the most arduous occasions. His con duct, however, was before his fellow citizens, and when their opinion was fairly taken, it could not fail to be one of general approbation. The cause,, however, which they came to sup port was not the cause of Mr. Alderman Waithman, but the cause of the independence and freedom of the city, of which they were to appoint him the advocate.. Mr. Favell, in conclu sion, declared, that he was too old to do much mischief, but his utmost exertions should be used for the cause which he had uniformly supported by aiding his friend. Mr. Deputy REE V ZS, after a short speech, in which he stated from the experience during a personal acquaintance of 30 years which lie had had of the abilities, the energy, and the highintegrity of his friend the Alderman, moved a resolution expressive of the opinion of the Meeting, that Mr: Alderman Waithman, from his long connection with the Corporation, his intimate acquaintance with its privileges and best interests, was highly qualified to be chosen one of their representatives. The motion was seconded by Mr. PAYNE, and carried una nimously. Ou the motion of Mr. FENTON, it was resolved, that the persons composing the present Meeting should form them-' selves into a committee, for the purpose of conducting his election. A deputation from the Meeting then waited upon Mr. Alder man Waitlunan, who returned with them to the room, and was warmly cheered. Mr. Favell informed him of the manner in which the resolution had been passed by the meeting. Alderman SVAITIIMAN assured the Meeting that it was with doubt and hesitation he had• suffered his name to be brought forward as a candidate. It was ahazardous and litho rious thing to serve as a representative of a body of 13,000 or 14,000 individuals, possessing :many interests and privileges, besides those which were common to them all, for the preserva tion or advancement of which it would be his duty to labour. His health had suffered much, but he was thankful, that it was now so far restored as to enable him to execute those duties, and to attend to the solicitations which had been made to him by a large body of his fellow citizens, and by numbers with whom he was personally acquainted, that he would come for ward, and give them an opportunity of giving an independent, vote, and exercising their right of election. The call which had been made upon him, arose not from any influence of situation or connexion, but solely front a consideration of his conduct and principles as they appeared before them all. If his election was to depend on personal influence, not a doubt would arise as to the result. He then adverted to the particular responsibility attached to the character of a representative of the city of Lon don in particular, and to the Important nature of the duties of a Member of Parliament in general ; and he said, experience must have taught them to confide on no promises of service, unless they were supported by something more than promises— ! the experience of past services.—(Loud cheering.)—Was it ex traordinary that men who put themselves to vast expence in procuring . a peat in Parliament, - should, after such a sacrifice, prefer their own interests to those of the public ? NVere pro mises to be relied upon, when they saw men of the highest rank engaged in, and profiting by, the most despi cable and scandalous jobs that had ever disgraced any time or place ?—( Hear, hear o—He then said, that whomever they might choose to support their interests, they should require no sacrifices of property, if they wished to obtain the benefi cial use of his time and services. —(Cheers.)—'they had hap. pily arrived at a period in which they might somewhat ap. proximate in public sentiments—yet they had passed through times in, which it was dangerous to utter their sentiments freely. lie had encountered them, and hail often sufferedin consequence. •He might have formed erroneous opinions, but lie had never swerved from principle.—(Cheers.)—Principles were, MlcOangeable, :and circumstances had moved from him rather than him from circumstances. . With respect to pro fessions,'he had none to ofir,• for unless his past exertions 'formed sufficient security for his future conduct, lie had no se curity to .offer.—(Cheers.)—He could only say in conclusion, that success would depend entirely on the exertions of the friends to the principles which he had advocated, and, from all his information, it appeared those exertions would be con siderable, and his success certain.—(Cheers.) • Mr. OALLOWAY said, that it was injurious to the freedom hi c g o l u a rs y of election, and that it was contrary to principle, to put a c a n. shoulde pr i mportant pob pr o pose d se that ee tth a ian the city . of London to the country at large. an didate to any expellee in obtaining an office, in which he w as e xpected to give up his time and services gratuitously for the He o a re r, , p h u e r a e r 1 and )-.-It rationalw a s p ex u a b in lia pl g e oo: f .--( ina a subscription should be entered into, for the purpose of de. fraying the expence of their election. Some might give their, tim e _to others it would be more convenient if they gave their money. It would, however, be expedient to calla more pub lic general meeting of The friends of the Alderman, for the purpose of' considering the propriety of adopting this and other measures which might be thought expedient by the Committee now chosen. After sonic further discussions as to the means to be adopted. in which much zeal was manifested, thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the Meeting separated. READING. As the period of the dissolution of Parliament approaches, the electioneering manwuvres are becoming more active in every part of the country . It appears that a canvass in favour of !Ur. Wakefield, which has for some time past been very industriously if not very fairly carried on in the borough of Reading, by the leaders of the high Tory , party, or, as they choose to call themselves, " the true blues, ' has excited the attention of the independent electors, who are determined to return the present Members to the next Parliament. The blues having formed committees, and held weekly meetings ; at different public-housee, the votes of the landlords of which they have endeavoured to secure, the: independent electors re solved toCounteract . this influence in an open and direct man ner, and have accordingly For some time past assembled publicly once a week. The last weekly meeting, which took place on Tuesday at the George Inn was very numerously attended.— Mr. Henry Marsh was in the chair, and the most respectable inhabitants of Reading were present. Mr. C. F. Palmer, one of the representatives of the borough, visited the meeting, and congratulated the electors on the progrese the independent 'cause had made, of which cause he consi d er ed himself merely an agent in their hands. He assured them that he had never entertained for a moment the idea of retiring from the contest, and requested them 'in future to give no credit to any rumour to that effect. The health of Mr. Marsh, the chairman, being drank, that gentleman made sortie' curious remarks rela tive to the politics of the borough, which we extract from the Reading Mercury of Monday last. He observed, that the borough of' Reading seemed to be considered a very marketable commodity by those who, in his opinion, were not over well ac quainted with the nature and value of the goods they were so well inclined to purchase. It must be in the recollection "f many present, that, a few years ago, when a very Pale estate was offered for sale by auction in this neighbourhood, that a moiety at least of this borough was held out to whoever might become the purchaser, as an almost certain appendage to the estate—. a sort of bargain, in which the majority of eleven hundred electors were not exactly to be valued with the timber, hut to be given in as a few - saplings not worth the notice of the ven dor, hut that might become usefill and ornamental to the nur iestttl)go'f chaser.—( Loud laughter and applause).—lt would seem t h at we were a most enticing lot, for having escaped the hamm er o f one auctioneer _( hear , hear !)—who, if' he (Mr. M ars h ) was riot w b e e s i h ng ou patronized b terribly mistaken, would find us as awkw a rd - anti unsaleable a lot as ever he had to dispose of.(Continued laughter).-1f things were to go on at this rate, instead o f b e i ng d es i gnate d be dubbed b y borougha d s le th a e ue in ti t n te n p e e e n t 4e b n e t rongli ofand ea Rending, Dukes and Lords.;. as some boroughs were, we must take our position under the shadow of some Icifiglt of the hammer. (" Never," end laughing.) As we had escaped the former at tempt, so lie felt convinced we should the present, for though w e might boast - that the charter of our borough was granted by a virgin Queen, we could not boast of being a virgin bo rough, and were certainly too old, too tough, and too cunning to be under any apprehension of abduetion,--(Continued clap, ping and laughter.)-.-Mr. Marsh then passed some well-de served encom iums on the Parliamentary conduct of our pre sent members t - at the same time remarking that the object of this and similar me e ti ngs was not so muc h to consider the in terest of any particular candidate, as to maintain that purity of principle on which all candidates ought to be returned.— (Loud c heering.) According to the reports in private letters from Madrid, a plot has been discovered, of which the object was to carry off the KING and his family. This rumour appears, however, to rest on very questionable authority. It certainly s.P. pears from concurrent accounts, that the Spanish Capital is in a state of great disorder. The letters received yesterday from Rio Je ueiro, are silent on the disturbances reported its the French Papers, to have taken place there. So far from the Brazilians being in a state o f despondency, much confidence is expressed as to the issue of the war with Buenos Ayres. The Peranga frigate had arrived after a passage °t 43 days from England. It will be seen by.the subjoined communica lion from St. Petenburgh, extract e d from a Ge r ' man Paper received thi s morn i ng , th a t the publ ic mind there, is "still in a state of ..inqnletu de, altogether inconsistent with th e r eiterated assu r. antes that have been given, of the utter extinc tion of the late conspir a cy. The concluding rema rk is,mystarions,for frOm this it should seem,that th e plot of the conspirators was to have been carried into effect "'on the .very day of the interment.' Which then of the two brothers was the meditated victim, CONSTANTINE or Nrcgor,As ? or was 1t against the' whole . Imperial Family that the prod ject of the conspirators was directed ? The resist' ante of the troops at St. Petersburg!) was taken to he an expression of adherence to the Grand Duke CONSTANTINE, but from the character sub •sequently given by the official communications, the ultimate object of the conspirators must have been a total . change in the form of Government'. On this important fact, the Russian Cabinet has Very naturally taken all possible preco u " tion to keep the European public in profaned ignorance. Assuming the numbers itnplicated in the.conipiracy, even to approach the a mount at, which they have been stated, it does seem w2.1 - titer ous, that the secret should love .beeni /D long pre' served under the penetrating Russian polic e. If, as has been. asserted, th e d es i f the con' designs `o f spirators were known t o ALEXANDER , 'it is im possible to assign th e t o l erat i on o f t h e i r machi ne' tions with imp un it y , to any cause but that 0( apprehension, f rom t h e exten t t o w hi c h disaffec— tion might have been ascertained to exi st amongst the noble families of the Empire. An alleged insurrection of the Mountain Tribes of Caucasus, is made the pretext for banishing the soldiers directly implicated in the lut e revolt at St. Petersburgh, to that 'savage di° . trict of the Empire, where escape or communi• cation with their fellow soldiers, will be ali ke impracticable. An address to these men woula indeed flatter them, that this banishment is b u t for the gracious purpose of affording an oP' portunity of" washing out the stain" with whic h they are sullied, by signalizing themselves agains t the Caucasian Insurgents. When these rebellious Mountaineers shall be reduced to obedience, they are to return to St. Petersburgh,—but to wha t period the duration of this special service niai extend, will defy conjecture. To have punished so numerous a body of revolters might perhaps be considered hazardous; and the assignment °r this honourable service in Caucasia can be cps' _ PRICE OF STOCKS Tills DAT AT ONE O'CLOCK. Bank Stock 3 per Cent. Red. ..... .... s New Ditto 3 per Cent. Cons 79i Ex.Billsloool.l2d 4 'l' ' Pln• 3h per Cent. Ditto Red. 1%, ti o Smq2d, .k.... 45. . • . 4 l'eViiint, Via a r sooo " o Advertiio I Ban ,ontenitn. .. ........ aThi nk forlAcet Pt ' India Stock shut India for acct. Ditto Bonds, 4p. c..... ... I Cons. for Acct. South Sea Stock PRICES OF FOREIGN F Austrian Btls, 5 per cent.... Brazilian lids NUS AT ONE O'CLOCK. Neapolitan, 1824 Peruvian Bonds 34f 54J 4 PoTtuguese Bonds Prusman, 5 per cent. Ditto New Russian, New,sp.c. Spanish 1821, p. c. ... DJ 10 1823 ' Frenehiltentes, 5 R . c. —f —c. xchange —f —c. 3 p. c. Exchange -f. no:4 Ares J3llB lids, 6 per ct. 49 Colombian Ms 57 Do. 1024 Danish, 3 p. ct. Greek This Do. 1826 G tuttimala Mexican Bda. 5 p. c. 61 601 1 Do. 1825 ... 08 Mil 8 7ig PJiIOES ok littA 12 LS T ONE 'O I C LOCK . ' Per Share. • . • A nglo-nexican ;Mining Company Bolanos Mining Companyso 514 Pasco Peruvian 'Alining'Company New United Mexican Mining Company 3 Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company - Gat Engine Carriage Conipany . • liii POILEIGN Aitutvri). Guernsey and Jersey, Gottenhurgh llamburgh . France nut:. 1 H t 11 IVA TB ft T I,ON DON fiRl DOE TO-MORROW. 31orning, 35 minutes after 0.1 Evening,_s9_minutes after 0. THE sun. LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 1826. :.i